Educators for Excellence-Los Angeles Reacts to the Passage of the Successful School Climate Resolution

June 18 (Los Angeles) — Educators for Excellence–Los Angeles (E4E-Los Angeles), a teacher-led organization, celebrated the adoption of the Successful School Climate Resolution, which will ask the superintendent to create an alternative policy that will sunset mandatory random metal detector searches of students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) by July 2020.

“The passage of this resolution demonstrates the importance and urgency of establishing positive school climates and cultures to help schools, classrooms and communities build healthy learning environments for our students,” said Letitia Avalos, a transitional kindergarten teacher at Van Deene STEAM Academy and member of E4E-Los Angeles. “The end of random metal detector searches will encourage school leaders and educators to work with students to make schools safe by building relationships, providing tools on effective communication and equipping kids with the support they need instead of treating them with suspicion.”

“Passing this resolution marks another important transition from treating our students as criminals to treating them with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said Ama Nyamekye, Executive Director of E4E-Los Angeles. “This resolution will foster a learning environment that leverages positive behavior interventions, such as restorative justice and socio-emotional learning practices, while ensuring that schools use targeted supports that are aligned with the district’s School Climate Bill of Rights.”

In May 2016, E4E-Los Angeles joined 35 organizations in sending a letter to the LAUSD Board of Education and superintendent to oppose the mandatory metal detector search policy that allowed random student searches. E4E-Los Angeles has also participated in the district’s School-Wide Positive Behavior Intervention Support Task Force monthly meetings.